Expect non-stop badminton action this month as Rush Fitness Water hosts its 1st Rush Interclub Smashfest 2006 to satisfy the Filipinos’ insatiable need for the sport.
A total of 16 badminton clubs in Metro Manila are expected to show their wares in three consecutive weekends of the month starting on Sept. 16 and 17 for the first and second legs.
The third and fourth legs will be on Sept. 23 and 24, while the finals will be held on Sept. 30 at the Olympic Badminton Club in Libis.
The tournament, which aims to promote the rapid growth of badminton in the Philippines, also wants to encourage novice netters who want to excel in the sport.
The event is open to mixed-doubles pairs who are 18 years old and above.
“We are inviting everyone to be part of this exciting tournament. We hope to discover fresh talents that could become future world class players,” said tournament director Towie Vasquez.
Current world No.19 and country’s top badminton players Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion will provide a morale boost for the badminton aficionados who made it to the finals with their exhibition game before the final match.
However, participants must be amateur netters and have not joined any national or junior pools. Varsity players, even those in the training pool, in any collegiate leagues such as the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are also not allowed to compete in the tournament.
Same thing goes for the professional coaches or trainers.
The 16 clubs are from the key cities in Metro Manila: Quezon City, Makati, Mandaluyong, Ortigas and Pasig, Marikina and Manila.
Each club will select their bets that will represent their teams. Four participating clubs per leg will play simultaneously with the top two pairs advancing into the next round.
The competition has a double round-robin format.
The Rush Interclub Smashfest badminton tournament held in Blu Rackets last September 24, 2006 was won by Mark Cahulugan and Abel Nones with runnerups Alvin Sigaoat and Karla Estiles.
The pair of Mark and Abel will compete in the finals against teams from 15 other badminton clubs on Saturday September 30, 2006 at the Olympic Badminton Court in Libis Quezon City.
Lets cheer for our champions! Go Blu Rackets!